What This Soldier Did Was So Impressive His Silver Star Was Upgraded To A Service Cross

A CH-46 helicopter had flown through a hail of bullets and
dropped off Ranger Element 1, Warfle's team, in the heat of a
highly kinetic gunfight with the Taliban. Warfle's team was
supposed to suppress the enemy, allowing for Element 2 to assault
their position. He hadn't even stepped off the ramp of the
helicopter though when plans started falling apart.

Warfle exited the bird and into a wall of heavy, effective,
accurate fire. He fell to the ground immediately,
alternating fire and low crawling toward the enemy position.
Meanwhile both Elements 1 and 2 found themselves pinned down and
out of position.

On his own initiative, Warfle and another Ranger pretty much
stood up and rushed toward the gunfire. The only cover they had
was the suppressive fire they provided on their own.

When they were within 25 meters of an entrenched enemy machine
gun nest, they were both hit with a volley of rounds. The other
Ranger was hit badly, while Warfle sustained injuries to his
shoulder and was knocked to the ground. Once recovered, he
immediately positioned himself between his downed buddy and the
enemy.

Without treating his own injuries, he continued firing on the
enemy, providing the cover needed for the medic to cross open
ground and treat the other injured Ranger.

Still refusing medical treatment, he continued engaging the enemy
while a Medevac bird arrived to take the casualty back to base.
Only then did he throw a tourniquet on his arm and continue
assaulting the enemy.

Both Elements 1 and 2 were able to regroup, and break contact
from the enemy, but Warfle remained until the very last second,
only breaking contact once their helicopter had arrived.

It turns out Warfle was essentially corralling the enemy into a
group, while other Rangers called in the group's coordinates.
Eventually Warfle broke contact himself and boarded a flight out
of the fight, while ordnance dropped and obliterated at least 16
enemy combatants and two Taliban provincial commanders.

Specialist Warfle, with total disregard for his own personal
safety, maneuvered on a fortified enemy machine gun position
through effective enemy fire. Even after being wounded,
Specialist Warfle continued to suppress the enemy with high
volumes of effective fire in order to allow his team members to
pull his unconscious element leader to safety. Specialist
Warfle refused to be medically evacuated from the fight and his
actions allowed the Platoon to hastily withdraw and defeat the
enemy utilizing air assets.

For his actions, Warfle was at first put in for a Silver Star,
the nation's third highest award for valor. But, strangely
enough, the award came back as a Distinguished Service Cross, the
Army's second highest award for valor (behind the Medal of
Honor).